Apparatus and system for turning and positioning a patient

Abstract

A system for use with a bed having a frame and a supporting surface includes a sheet having a bottom surface placed above the supporting surface of the bed, a top surface, and a plurality of tether straps connected to and extending from the sheet. Each tether strap is configured for connection to the bed. The bottom surface is at least partially formed of a low friction material, and the top surface is at least partially formed of a high friction material, such that the top surface provides greater slipping resistance than the bottom surface. The tether straps include at least two pairs of tether straps, with one pair connected proximate a top edge of the sheet and another pair connected proximate a bottom edge of the sheet. The sheet may further include a sliding member on the bottom surface to assist in lateral sliding of the sheet.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for use with a bed having a frame and a supporting surface supported by the frame, the apparatus comprising:
 a sheet comprising:
 a first piece of sheet material and a second piece of sheet material, wherein the first piece of sheet material and the second piece of sheet material are connected in a confronting relation to form a layered structure; 
 the first piece of sheet material having a bottom surface adapted to be placed above the supporting surface of the bed and forming a bottom surface of the sheet, 
 the second piece of sheet material having a high friction top surface forming at least a portion of a top surface of the sheet, such that the top surface of the sheet provides greater slipping resistance than the bottom surface, and 
 the sheet having a top edge configured to be positioned proximate a head of the bed, a bottom edge configured to be positioned proximate a foot of the bed, and opposed side edges located between the top and bottom edges; and 
 
 a sliding member connected to the bottom surface of the sheet, the sliding member fixed to the bottom surface of the sheet along a first connection line and further fixed to the bottom surface of the sheet along a second connection line that is spaced from and parallel to the first connection line, the sliding member further having a free portion located between the first and second connection lines that is moveable over a range of movement in a first direction perpendicular to the first connection line with respect to the bottom surface of the sheet, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the sheet is configured to slide against the sliding member within the range of movement of the sliding member when the sheet is moved along the first direction, 
 wherein the sliding member has a first edge located at a first longitudinal end of the first connection line and a second edge located at a second longitudinal end of the first connection line, wherein the first and second edges are not connected to the sheet. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a wedge comprising a base wall, a ramp surface, and a back wall, the ramp surface being positioned at an angle to the base wall, wherein the wedge is configured to be positioned under the sheet such that the base wall confronts the supporting surface of the bed and the ramp surface confronts the bottom surface of the sheet. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the wedge further comprises a wedge body formed at least partially of a compressible material and defining the base wall, the ramp surface, and the back wall, the wedge having a low friction material positioned on the ramp surface and a high friction foam material positioned on the base wall, the high friction foam material adapted to resist sliding of the base wall with respect to the supporting surface of the bed. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tether straps connected to the sheet and extending from the sheet, each tether strap being configured for connection to the bed, wherein the plurality of tether straps comprise at least a first pair of tether straps connected proximate at least one of the top edge of the sheet or the bottom edge of the sheet opposite the top edge. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each tether strap comprises an elastic portion and a non-elastic portion each forming a portion of a length of the tether strap, wherein the elastic portion is connected at one end to the sheet and the elastic portion is connected at another end to the non-elastic portion, and the non-elastic portion is configured for connection to the bed. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of sheet material is formed by a low friction material, and the sliding member is made from the same low friction material. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding member is formed in a tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure has a central passage parallel to the first connection line, and wherein the tubular structure has opposed ends that are open to the central passage. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection line extends in a longitudinal direction between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sheet, and the first direction extends in a lateral direction between the opposed side edges of the sheet, such that the at least a portion of the bottom surface of the sheet is configured to slide against the sliding member within the range of movement of the sliding member when the sheet is moved along the lateral direction. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for use with a bed having a frame and a supporting surface supported by the frame, the apparatus comprising:
 a sheet comprising:
 a first piece of sheet material and a second piece of sheet material, wherein the first piece of sheet material and the second piece of sheet material are connected in a confronting relation to form a layered structure; 
 the first piece of sheet material having a bottom surface adapted to be placed above the supporting surface of the bed and forming a bottom surface of the sheet, 
 the second piece of sheet material having a high friction top surface forming at least a portion of a top surface of the sheet, such that the top surface of the sheet provides greater slipping resistance than the bottom surface, and 
 the sheet having a top edge configured to be positioned proximate a head of the bed, a bottom edge configured to be positioned proximate a foot of the bed, and opposed side edges located between the top and bottom edges; and 
 
 a sliding member connected to the bottom surface of the sheet, the sliding member having a fixed portion that is fixed to the bottom surface of the sheet along a first connection line and a free portion that is moveable over a range of movement in a first direction perpendicular to the first connection line with respect to the bottom surface of the sheet, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the sheet is configured to slide against the sliding member within the range of movement of the sliding member when the sheet is moved along the first direction, 
 wherein the sliding member is formed in a tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure has a central passage parallel to the first connection line, and wherein the tubular structure has opposed ends that are open to the central passage. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the sliding member is further fixed to the bottom surface of the sheet along a second connection line that is spaced from and parallel to the first connection line, wherein the free portion is located between the first and second connection lines. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of tether straps connected to the sheet and extending from the sheet, each tether strap being configured for connection to the bed, wherein the plurality of tether straps comprise at least a first pair of tether straps connected proximate at least one of the top edge of the sheet or the bottom edge of the sheet opposite the top edge. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first connection line extends in a longitudinal direction between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sheet, and the first direction extends in a lateral direction between the opposed side edges of the sheet, such that the at least a portion of the bottom surface of the sheet is configured to slide against the sliding member within the range of movement of the sliding member when the sheet is moved along the lateral direction. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for use with a bed having a frame and a supporting surface supported by the frame, the apparatus comprising:
 a sheet comprising:
 a first piece of sheet material and a second piece of sheet material, wherein the first piece of sheet material and the second piece of sheet material are connected in a confronting relation to form a layered structure; 
 the first piece of sheet material having a bottom surface adapted to be placed above the supporting surface of the bed and forming a bottom surface of the sheet, 
 the second piece of sheet material having a high friction top surface forming at least a portion of a top surface of the sheet, such that the top surface of the sheet provides greater slipping resistance than the bottom surface, and 
 the sheet having a top edge configured to be positioned proximate a head of the bed, a bottom edge configured to be positioned proximate a foot of the bed, and opposed side edges located between the top and bottom edges; and 
 
 a sliding member connected to the bottom surface of the sheet, the sliding member being fixed to the bottom surface of the sheet along a first connection line and a second connection line parallel to the first connection line, the sliding member having a free portion that is moveable over a range of movement in a first direction perpendicular to the first and second connection lines with respect to the bottom surface of the sheet, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the sheet is configured to slide against the sliding member within the range of movement of the sliding member when the sheet is moved along the first direction, 
 wherein the free portion is moveable over a greater range of movement in the first direction than in a second direction parallel to the first and second connection lines with respect to the bottom surface of the sheet, and 
 wherein the range of movement of the sliding member is greater than a distance between the first and second connection lines. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of tether straps connected to the sheet and extending from the sheet, each tether strap being configured for connection to the bed, wherein the plurality of tether straps comprise at least a first pair of tether straps connected proximate at least one of the top edge of the sheet or the bottom edge of the sheet opposite the top edge. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the sliding member is formed in a tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure has a central passage parallel to the first and second connection lines, and wherein the tubular structure has opposed ends that are open to the central passage. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second connection lines extend in a longitudinal direction between the top edge and the bottom edge of the sheet, and the first direction extends in a lateral direction between the opposed side edges of the sheet, such that the at least a portion of the bottom surface of the sheet is configured to slide against the sliding member within the range of movement of the sliding member when the sheet is moved along the lateral direction.